Summer is the season for many young people to kick back, enjoy the sunshine, hang out with friends, and get some downtime outside their busy school schedule. However, the lazy days of summer can introduce dangerous opportunities, especially for those with mental health challenges.
When days are longer and temperatures rise, teenage and young adult substance use increases. In fact, summer is the most common time for young people to experiment with illegal and recreational drugs–even if they haven’t before.
Read on for stats on summer substance use, research on the dangers of substance use in hot and humid temperatures, and ways young people can limit drinking and drug use.
What You’ll Learn
- Why does substance use increase among teens and young adults during the summer?
- What do the latest statistics reveal about summer drug and alcohol use?
- How can heat and humidity make substance use more dangerous?
- What is the connection between mental health challenges and substance use?
- What strategies can help young people prevent or reduce summer substance use?
Quick Read
Summer often brings more free time, less supervision, and increased social events, making it a common season for teenagers and young adults to experiment with alcohol and drugs. Research shows that first-time substance use peaks during the summer months, while heat and humidity can increase the risks associated with drinking and drug use.
Mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, loneliness, and boredom can also contribute to substance use, creating a cycle that may worsen emotional well-being. By recognizing warning signs, identifying triggers, building healthy coping skills, and seeking support when needed, young people can reduce their risk and enjoy a safer, healthier summer.
Summer Substance Use: Why Do Teenagers and Young Adults Drink and Use Drugs More?
Summertime brings with it a variety of substance use triggers. During this season, young people often have more idle time. Middle and high schoolers welcome this time with less adult supervision, including less structure provided by teachers, coaches, and parents. Combined with the influence of friends and social media, this can put teens at a higher risk of experimental behavior.
As for college students, they are between semesters with fewer responsibilities. And young adults in the workplace are out later in the warm evenings and tend to take more vacations and long weekends in summer. They often find themselves drinking alcohol and drugs as part of social events or just to pass the time.
This is also the season for big summer social activities like pool parties, barbecues, cabin time, and music festivals. And many of these revolve around alcohol consumption and other drugs. Furthermore, social pressure at these gatherings can push some teenagers and young adults to use more than they usually would, which is one reason summer can increase substance use along with more free time. For those struggling with addiction or mental health challenges, summer sobriety can be incredibly difficult.
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Statistics on Summer Substance Use Initiation in Teenagers and Young Adults
The link between summertime, youth, and experimental drug use is clear, according to a study from the NYU School of Medicine. Researchers examined data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health gathered between 2011 and 2017.
Nearly 395,000 respondents (age 12 or older) were asked if they had experimented with cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine, or LSD in the past two years. If they had, they were asked to identify when they first experimented. In the case of each drug, initiation was more likely to occur in the summer months than at other times of the year. More precisely, up to 30% of first-time drug use occurs during the summer, showing that first-time use is more prevalent in summer months and that summer is associated with high rates of cannabis initiation and usage.
Furthermore, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has found thousands of teens try alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana for the first time at the highest rates in June and July, with more than 11,000 youths trying alcohol for the first time each day in June and July. Summer is also a peak time for teenagers and young adults to experiment with illicit substances, which can create added relapse risk for people managing substance use disorders.
The Dangers of Summer Substance Use
Heat and humidity can magnify the effects of substance use because heat can affect the body by raising the dangers tied to alcohol use and other substances (dehydration, heat stroke, etc.). Hence, young people in Minnesota who are not as acclimated to the hot weather are at a higher risk of an overdose.
One recent study found that emergency room visits for alcohol-related disorders increased when temperatures got hotter, and summer heat also raises substance-related hospital visits among adults increased when temperatures got hotter. The number of hospital visits due to the alcohol consumption and the use of cannabis, cocaine, opioids, and sedatives all went up.
Another study in California found that ER visits for use or overdose of amphetamine, cocaine, and opioids all went up in the summer. Researchers theorized that people who use drugs may be more vulnerable to heat due to the effects of the substances. Consequently, the mental health impact of climate change could include increased rates of substance-related illness or overdose.
The Link Between Summer Mental Health Challenges and Substance Use
Summer can make mental health symptoms worse, and that can lead to increased substance use among young people. For example, college students may feel especially anxious or depressed in the summertime if they have few social outlets and feel lonely and bored. To cope with their mental health issues, they may begin or increase substance use as a form of self-medication. One study of college students, for example, found that poor mental health was associated with more significant alcohol-related consequences.
On the other hand, teenagers and young adults who drink or use other substances may become depressed or anxious as a result of drinking and using drugs. Problem substance use can lead to relationship problems, losing a job, or bad grades—increasing the user’s distress and anxiety. Research shows that young people with a high frequency of drug use (two to three days a week or more) are significantly more likely to report mental health issues vs. those who don’t use drugs as often.
Signs That Substance Use Has Become a Problem
Here are some of the most common signs that recreational drinking or drug use has progressed into a teenage or young adult substance use disorder, and some risk factors can include social settings and pressure from others:
- Poor hygiene
- Trouble sleeping
- Weight loss or gain
- Less interest in hobbies and activities
- Difficulty functioning in everyday life
- Increased tolerance (needing more of a substance to feel the same effects)
- Using more than intended
- Headaches, nausea, and sadness when the substance wears off
- Thinking frequently about how and when you can use again
- Secretive behavior (hiding how often you use)
- Engaging in risky behavior due to substance use, especially in summer gatherings where peer-driven environments are among the factors involved when use becomes more dangerous
- Legal trouble as a result of alcohol or drug use
How to Limit Drinking Alcohol and Summer Substance Use
Summertime can provide a host of triggers for engaging in problematic substance use, and disruptions to recovery routines can also raise relapse risk for some people. However, limiting substance use in the summer is possible with some or all of the following strategies.
Hang Out with Sober Friends
If you want to feel less pressure to drink or do recreational drugs, spend time with sober friends. There are many ways to have healthy summer fun that don’t involve drinking or drugs. Play tennis. Watch a movie. Try outdoor activities like hiking, biking, or kayaking. Join a photography club as a new hobby. Go to an outdoor yoga class or plan a substance-free outing built around food and alcohol free drinks. Time in the great outdoors can be just as rewarding without substances. When your friends’ free time doesn’t revolve around substances, yours probably won’t, either.
Ask for Support
You’re less likely to go overboard if you have people looking out for you, including friends and families when appropriate. Before a high-risk event, consider attending a recovery meeting to help process feelings. For instance, if you’re attending a get-together, ask supportive friends and family to ensure you don’t have more than two drinks. Alternatively, encourage them to support you in refraining from alcohol and drugs altogether.
Between events, volunteering can help some people stay grounded and give them a sense of purpose. Have an exit plan before you go so you can leave if the situation starts to feel unsafe or triggering. Having people who care about you in your corner, along with open communication, substance-free activities, and healthy boundaries, can help protect your well being and recovery during summer events.
Identify Your Triggers
Think back to the times you’ve drunk or used drugs to excess. Where were you? Who were you with? How were you feeling? Were you using one substance (like marijuana) that led you to indulge in another? Identify the places, people, feelings, and activities that have more often caused you to engage in substance use. Then, plan around them or avoid them altogether.
Learn to Say “No, Thanks”
Just because someone offers you a drink or a recreational drug, you don’t have to take it, especially when social pressure makes it harder to say no. Practice saying, “No, thanks.” While you don’t owe anyone an explanation, offer one if it makes you feel more comfortable. You might say you have an early class in the morning so declining early helps you stay in control, or you can simply say, “I’ve had enough.” If someone gives you a hard time, hold your boundary and move on.
Manage Your Stress
Young people have their share of summer stressors: work or job searches, forging or ending romantic relationships, financial issues, etc. When you’re overwhelmed, turning to alcohol or other substances might feel like an easy way to reduce stress, but there are healthier options that support both mental and physical health. Engage in cardiovascular or strength-training exercise, yoga, tai chi, or meditation. These are excellent ways to shift your body out of fight-or-flight and into rest-and-relaxation mode while creating more balance.
Seek Professional Help
Even with the best of intentions, some people can’t seem to curb substance use disorders on their own. If drinking or drugs are interfering with your daily life but you keep using anyway, you likely require professional support. Don’t hesitate to look for a mental health counselor, a 12-step meeting like Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous. There’s no shame in seeking help.
Hospitalization for Mental Health and Substance Use Emergencies
Our inpatient hospitalization program in Brooklyn Park provides safety and stabilization when a young person is experiencing a mental health emergency. Through full-day treatment and 24/7 care from our experts, anyone 35 and under can get immediate treatment for their mental health as well as a co-occurring substance use disorder.
If you or a loved one need immediate care for severe mental health symptoms, call our team at 952-826-8425. If applicable, our team will work with you to determine the care you need and start the intake process at our hospital.
Although we do not offer detox at our hospital, we work with teenagers and young adults to help them stabilize their symptoms while identifying the internal and external conditions that impact their severe symptoms and substance use disorders. After about 10 days, patients will be discharged from the hospital with a treatment plan that includes a next level of care, such as an outpatient or residential program, to continue their healing journey.
PrairieCare’s Treatment for Teenage and Young Adult Substance Use Disorder
At PrairieCare, we understand that substance use can arise as a result of untreated mental health disorders. By addressing a young person’s mental wellness, we can work through the root of the issue and build sustainable outcomes.
Our full continuum of programs throughout Minnesota treats substance use as a co-occurring disorder with comprehensive care from a multidisciplinary team. Young people engage in individual, group, and family therapy at every level of care. We incorporate activities in their schedule that elevate their creativity, playfulness, and joy to assist their healing and connection to the world around them.
To get started, call our team today at 952-826-8475 any day or time to learn more about our services, access a mental health screening, and begin the admission process. You can also request a complimentary care questionnaire by clicking the button below and filling out the form on the right. Our team will then contact you within one business day to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are young adults more prone to substance use in the summer?
- Fewer responsibilities, more free time, and an increase in social activities involving drinking alcohol create the conditions for higher rates of young adult substance use in summer, and binge drinking among young adults is often more likely during summer social events.
Is there a link between mental health challenges and substance use?
- People with mental health challenges sometimes use substances to self-medicate anxiety, depression, or stress. Conversely, problems with substance use can lead to mental health issues due to the external issues they create (with relationships and finances, for example), as well as their impact on brain health.
How do you know if you have a problem with substance use?
- Common signs include difficulty functioning in daily life, cravings, thinking about when and how you can use it again, using more than intended, and secretive behavior.
What are some ways to limit summer substance use?
- Some ways include identifying what your substance use triggers are, planning to avoid them, engaging in sober activities, and asking friends and family for support.
Why does water safety matter during summer?
- Drinking alcohol during summer water activities can slow reaction time and impair judgment, and alcohol consumption increases the risk of swimming incidents, boating accidents, injury, and death. Alcohol is also a leading contributor to water-related drowning deaths, so extra caution is important around children.
Why is travel riskier during summer holidays?
- Summer holidays are among the most dangerous times for driving, and drinking alcohol can further raise crash risk during busy trips. It may also worsen some health conditions linked to travel, so the goal is to stay safe.
Sources
- Environ Int. 2023 Nov; 181: 108233.
- Communications Medicine. 2023 Sept. 3: 118.
- Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy. 2020 Jun; 15(1): 43.
- J Gen Intern Med. 2020 Mar; 35(3): 947–949.